Yarn carrier rod stop mechanism for straight knitting machines



R. ANKE June 6, 1939.

YARN CARRIER ROD STOP MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet l,

IN V EN TOR.

lj w ogok/Anke ax, ATTORNEY.

R. ANKE 2,161,240

YARN CARRIER ROD STOP MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES June 6, 1939.

Filed March 28, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6,1939. R/ANKE I 2,161,240

YARN CARRIER ROD STOP MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 wfiss' 1 w INVENTbR: udoQvhAnI (e, BY 9 ATTORNK R. ANKE June 6 1939.

YARN CARRIER ROD STOP MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

IN V EN TOR: ijzwlofph An BY June 6, 1939. R. ANKE 2,161,240

YARN CARRIER ROD SI OF MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FLE-Y Q IN V EN TOR:

gun/Ange, agga 625% June 6 1939. R ANKE 2,161,240

*ARN CARRIER ROD STOP MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR:

BY 54% W ATTORNE Z June 6, 1939.

R. ANKE YARN GARRIER' RQD STOP MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 28, 1935 F1. -lEa- Fl 13- l'7 e \Y ZN i Patented 6, 193 9 PATENT OFFICE 7 YARN BOD STOP MECHANISM son STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Rudolph use, n w Pa., asslgnor to'Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., in corporation of Pennsyl Application March as, 1935. Serial No. 13,469

200kb s.-

My invention relates to stop in for limiting the inward travel of reciprocable carrier rods of full fashioned knitting machines, 'and particularly to stop mechanisms for controlling '5 the rods, as in plating, when the yarns are laid over a distance less than entirely across the knitting field.

Certain areas of a full fashioned knitted stock-,

are more extensivelyutilized, as in the case ofthe. main silk carrier, which ordinarily lays the courses for reinforced heel tabs, following its feeding of silk to a main leg portion of a stocking from the welt to the instep.

To change the travel of the carrier rods, in the production of diiierent portions of the stocking, hand-operated stop members are usually provided, as shown in Patent No. 1,528,358 issued to M, Zwicky, March 3, 1925, and assigned to the assignee hereof. These stop members aredisposed in inoperative position during the full stroke of the carriers, while knitting the main leg portion of the stocking, and are operated, only when-the carriers are employed to for a limited 'width of the stocking, as in the heel tabs, during the knitting of which, the stop membersa'recausedtocoactwiththecarrierrodsto limit the travel of the latter in predetermined sequence.

Among'the objects of the invention are to avoid the objections to manual of stops-of the above-mentioned character, to provide novel means operated by one .of the rods forvarying the stroke bf another rod. and to render such means simple and durable inconstruction, economicsi to manufacture and eifectivein its Operation.

With these and ,ouier objects in view, which will becomeapparent from the following descz'ipof a full fashioned knitting machine embodying 'the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, taken substantially along th line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged viewof a portion of the device, taken in the direction of an arrow A o Pig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of portions or the structure, taken substantially along the line 4-4 oi. Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a view, taken substantially along the line H of Fig. 3, showing certain parts as related at one stage of operation;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views, similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the parts as related in a sequence of operations following the operation illustrated by the relation of parts in Fig. 6;

Fi 'Iais' a view. taken substantially along the line la-la of Fig-'7;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the blank of a stocka ing leg, as knitted on a machine embodying'the invention;

Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing a sequence of operation of ele-'- ments "of the other flgures, partiou1arly as seen in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. together with portions of the stockingblank; and- Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 are enlarged sectional views takensubstantially along the lines "-14, lI ll, |i"l6, ll-lLof Flgs.'10, 11, 12 and 13, respectively.

"I'igal and 2 show parts fashioned stocking knitting machine embodying the mechanism and elements of the? invention.,

1 'or only those parts 11' for an understanding of the improvement. are illustrated; the-other parts and the operation there of being well known, as-fullyshown and descrlbed in the Reading" FulLFashloned Knitting Machine Catalogue. cop ht 1929, and published by Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania. 1 i Referring to the drawings, a front rail II, a

cooperate with supporting frame embers, in-

of a Reading ifull .back rail l2, afront. bed li and a ce ter bed 14,

cludingcenter frames [5, to form -.a support for the'operating parts? of the machine. A coulier cam I 6 cooperating with a' pitman l'l, rollers 18, a short rocker arm l9 'and a long rocker arm 20, together provide means for translating rotary movement of the cam shaft into longitudinal reciprocative movement of a,friction rod 22, and view of a portion a connecting bar ll, Fig. 2. The rocker arms I! and 28, pivotally connected to the pitman IT, by I -to feed the yarn to needles 32;-

studs 24 and 25, are connected to sulppo ing brackets 28 and 21, by shafts 28 and 28, respectively. The upper end of the long rocker arm 28 operates the friction rod 22, and the connecting bar 23, through a cross-head assembly C, Fig. 1.

A plurality of friction boxes 38, only oneof which is shown, are held in yielding engagement with the friction rod 22. These boxes coact with suitable means, such as dogs on the carrier rods l to 8, inclusive, to lock the rod 22 to the selected carrier rods for actuating corresponding yarn carriers, such as carriers lb, 3b and 817, Fig. 2, Cock boxes 33, secured to the connecting bar 23, and slidably I mounted on the cock-box bar 34, operate toslur -a series of jacks 35 into engagement with sinkers .38, which place or sink the yarn between the needles. 7

End stops 31, of narrowing heads N, are employed to limit the strokes'of the carriers, when it is desired to have .the yarn laid across the entire knitting field. When the inward travel of the carrier rods is to be limited to a distance less than the entire width of the fabric, a center stop mechanism S, as shown in the above-mentioned Patent No. 1,528,358, is ordinarily employed. A

bracket 38, of the mechanism S, is fixed to the center bed l4, by bolts 38, between two of the center frames l5. The bracket '38 supports. a stop-backing member, or block 48, by means of a-shaft 42. The block 40 is held, by a set screw 43, and a lock nut 44, in fixed positionoverhanging the carrier rod structure.

-Carriers'top. levers 5| to 58, inclusive, are pivotally mounted on a shaft to limit the inward. travel of the carriers Ito 8, respectively. The

"stop 1'evers5 l, 53, 55 and 51, limit the travel of the carrier rods l, 3', 5'and'1, to the left, and the levers 52, 54, 58 and .58 limit the movement of the rods 2, 4, 8 and 8 to the right. v Handles, such as handles 5m and 52a, Figs. 6, 7 and 8, are provided on the stop levers to facilitate manual operation thereof.. Adjustable abutments, are provided to engage the stops, such as abutment screws 5lb and 52b, which coact with the stops Ia and 2a. of the rods l and z,

in the positions of handles 53a, 55a, 54a, and 58a,

respectively: When the handles extend vertically upwardly, inthe positions of handles 5|a, 51a, 52a and 58a, indicated in Fig. 3,'the corresponding stop levers are in operative 'position. When the handles extend vertically downwardly,

indicated in Figs.- 2, 3,4 and 5, the transverse travel of the'corresponding carriers will "ordinarily be controlled only by the end stops'of the narrowing head N. The carrier stop levers 5| to 58, inclusive, are provided with detents 82 which c'oact with grooves 83 of the shaft 45 to hold the stop levers in either operative or inoperative positions. The ,detents 82 are heldin engagement with the shaft 45 by springs 84-, which are retained in the stop levers by screws 85. This mechanism is of usual character, andemployed in the full fashioned stocking knitting machine of the above-mentioned Reading" catalogues I with a high-speed machine, in which the opera- In accordance with the invention, the usual carrier stop device is rendered capable of use tion of certain of the mechanisms is automatic. During the knitting of a full fashioned stocking 3 leg blank L, as shown in Fig, 9, the carriers on the rods 1, 2, 1'and 8 areordinarily employed during the formation oftabs T of the reinforced or plated heel portions H, in whichlcase, the

'tion of the stop lever 52, from that of Figs.

stop levers 5|, I2, 51 and 58 are normally operatively positioned, as shown inFig. 3.

However, since carrier 2b on the rod 2, see Fig. 13, is normally employed as a main silk carrier, while fabricating thatportion of the stocking between the welt and the ravel courses 'at the instep, and is employed, from the latter position to the ends of the heel tabs T, simultaneously with the carrier 8b, to plate one of the heel tabs T, it'is desirable that means be provided for automatically operating the stop lever 52, when the operation of the carrier rod 2 is to be changed from that of a main silk carrier to that of a plating carrier, or from operation as a main silk carrier. .1 r

A rest member 48, fixed to the carrier rod 1, is provided for automatically changing the posi- 8, 13 and 1'1, to the position of Figs. 6, 10 and 14. A tension spring 41 is secured, at one end, to the handle 52a and, at the other end, to the stop connection, the stop lever 52 is normally held against the side wall of the stop block 40, as,

shown in Figs. 6 and 10, ,when the carrier'rod l is placed in. operation, the latter action movin right. The rest member 48, and a'stop lift memblock 38, through a bracket 48, Fig. 3. By this ber 48, are, so positioned on the carrier rods I and 2, respectively, that, during the normal platins movements' of the rods land 2, the member 48 and the member 49 do not affect the lever 52.

However, upon the completion of the plating of the heel tabs '1, the carrier rod 2 is moved to its inoperative position, illustratedin Figs. '7 and. 11, whereupon the member 48 engages the lower end of the lever 52,;and raises the latter to the position better illustrated inFig. 15.' 'With the stop lever 52 thus positioned, the' carrier rod l is-next moved to the w 12, whereupon the member 48 and the member 48 are both positioned beneath the stop lever 52,

see Figs. 12 and 16. With the member 48 thus positioned, the carrier rod 2 may again be operated as a main silk carrler, without disturbing the lever 52 which will continue to be held in its inoperative position by the member 48, and the stroke'of the rod 2 will be-controlled by the end stops 31 of the heads N, Figs. 1, 8 and 13. The lift member. 48, andthe rest member 48, are aligned withadjacent lower portions of the lock lever 52, so that the latter may the member 48 to permit the travel therebeheath of the lift member 48.- In like manner, the memberf48 may be positioned beneath the lock lever 52, while the latter is supported by the lift member 48, ter. Figs. 1a. and

under thelever 52, as indicated. The spring 41 lowers the lever 52 so that the contact member 52b will beiiithe path of movement of stop 2a to reduce the length of the stroke of thecarrier rod 2 from that required while the rod is operbe positioned by without disturbing the position of the lat- '17 indicate how a portion 58 of the member148 on the carrier rod l'laterallyinoperative position of Fig.

. stroke necessary fashioned knitting machines,

reciprocating the carrier rods,

- 1. In a knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including needles, reciprocable carrier rods having yarn carriers thereon for laying yarn to the needles, and means for of carrier rod stop means, and carrier rod operated means including elements carried by each of a plurality of the carrier rods and cooperating with said stop means for afiecting the operation of a carrier rod by said reciprocating means to operate through strokes of difl'erent lengths.

2. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a needle bank, longitudinally reciprocable rods, means for reciproeating the rods, a carrier on oneof said rods for laying yarn to said bank, and means including elements on said rods and stop means controlled by saidone rod and by another of said rods for controlling said one rod to operate through strokes of different lengths.

.3. In a knitting machine, in combination with the carrier rods thereof; means for varying the extents of longitudinal reciprocable movements of one yarn-barrier rod, comprising a support, a stop mounted on said support for movement relative thereto in one direction between a position for stopping, and a position for releasing, said one rod; an element carried by said one rod responsive to movement thereof in the direction opposite to the one in which said stop is operative for moving said stop from said stopping position.

to said releasing position, and a member carried by another of said rods for holding said stop in said releasing position. i

4. In a full fashioned hosiery knitting inachine, in

' thereof and drive means for imparting stroke I rirs for laying yarn to said bank,

5-. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a; needle bank, carriers for" laying yarn to said bank, longitudinally reciprocable carrier rods for said yam carriers, friction box means'for reciprocating the rods, and means including elements on said rods and stop means controlled by a'plurality or the carrier rods for affecting the operation of one of the rods as effected by said friction box means to operate through strokes of diiferent lengths.

6. A'flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a needle bank, car;-

longitudinally recipr'ocable carrier rods for said yarn carriers, friction box means for reciprocatirfg the' rods, stop means for afiecting the operation of a carrier rod as enacted by said friction box means different lengths,

to operate through strokes of and means including elements responsive only to a movement on said rods and of one rod in the combination with the carrier rods 7 direction 'opposite to the one in which a'stop is operative for putting. the stop out of action.

7. A flat knitting machine comprising a pair of parallel adjacent longitudinally reciprocable elongated yarn carrier rods, a stationary support between the ends of the rods, a stop for one of the rods movably'mounted on the support for movement between positions, respectively, for stopping and releasing said one rod, an element on said one 'rodfarranged to lift the stop from stopping to releasing position upon a movement of said one'rod in the direction opposite to the one in which said stop is operative, and an element on the other rod ,upon which the stop rests in a given position of the other rod.

8. A flat knitting machine comprising, knitting mechanism including a needle bank, carriers for laying yarn to said bank, longitudinally reciprocable carrier rods for said yarn carriers, means for reciprocating the rods, stop means pivoted to swing' in ,a plane, extending vertically "through'the longitudinalaxis of the rod on which it acts, and means including elements on said rods and. stop means for aifectingthe operation of a carrier rod by said rod reciprocating means to operate through strokes of different lengths.

9. Means for varying the extents of longitudinal reciprocable movements of one of a plurality of yarn carrier rods of a knitting machine, comprising a support, a stop-backing member, a stop pivoted on said support for movement in one direction between a position backed by said member for. stopping, and a position for releasing, said one rod, an element on said one rod responsive to movement thereof in the opposite direction for moving said stop from said stopping position to said releasing position, and a member on another of said rods for holding said stop in said releasing position.

10. A flat knitting machine comprising a pair 4 of parallel adjacent longitudinally reciprocable elongated yarn carrier rods, a stationary support between the ends of the rods, a stop for one of the rods .inovably mounted on the support for movement between positions, respectively, for stopping and releasingsaid one rod, an element on said one rod for lifting the stop 'from stopping to releasing position, and an element on the other rod upon which the stop rests in a given position of'the other rod. Y

11. A flat knitting machinecomprising a pair of parallel adjacentlongitudinally reciprocable elongated yarn carrier rods, a support bracket extending transversely to the rods adjacent there- 'to between the ends thereof, a stop for one of the rods pivotally mounted on the support bracket aboutan axis transverse to the rods for movement between a position against the support bracket to stop said one rod and a position to release said one rod, an element on said one rod for lifting the stop tion, andan element on the other rod upon which he stop rests in a given position of the other rod.

12. A flat knitting'machine comprising a pair; of parallel adjacent longitudinally reciprocable elongated yarn carrier rods, a stationary support between the ends of the rods, 9. stop for one of therods movably mounted on the support for movement between positions, respectively, for

stopping and releasing said one rod; the-Step from stopping to releasing posithe stop I and an element on stopping position,

spring in a given position 0! t 13. A flat knitting machine comprising a pair' of parallel adjacent longitudinally ,recipr'ocable elongated'yam carrier rods, a stationary support between the ends of the rods, a stop for one of the rods movably vmounted on the support for movement between positions, respectively, Ior

stopping and releasing said one rod, means including a spring for biasing the stop toward its an element on said one rod for. liftingthe stop against the action of the from stopping to releasing position, and an element on the other red upon which the stop rests in a given 'position'oi the other rod.

14. A flat knitting machine comprising a pair of parallel adjacent longitudinally reciprocable elongated yarn. carrier rods, a stationary support bracket extending transversely to the rods adjacent thereto between, the ends'thereof, a stop' for one of the rods pivotally mounted on the bracket about an axis transverse to the rods for movement between a position against the bracket to stop'said one rod and aposition to release said one rod, the stop being biased'toward said stop position against the bracket, an element on said one rod for lifting the stop against said bias from stopping to releasing position, and an element on the other rod upon which the stop rests Y 'e other rod,

15. A flat knitting machine comprising a pair, of parallel adjacent longitudinally reciprocable, elongated yarn carrier rods, a stationary support between the ends of the rods, a stop for one of the rods movably mountedon the support for movement between a position against the support to stop said one rod and a position to'reiease said one rod, an element .on saidone rod for lifting the stop from stopping to releasing position,

the other rod upon which thestop rests in a given position of the other rod.

16. A flat knitting machine comprising a plurality otreciprocable yarn' carrier rods, astop carried by one of the rods, 9. stop leverfor cooperation with said stop to limit the stroke of said one rod, a member carried by said one rod to move said stop lever to inoperative position relative to said stop, and a member carried by an adjacent carrier rod for holding said stop lever in inoperative position to provide for unrestricted reciprocation of said one rod relative to said stop lever. I

17. A flat knitting machine comprising a pluralitypi reciprocable yarn carrier'rods, a stop carried by one of the rods, a pivoted stop lever swingable into and out or the path of movement rier rods, a

oted stop lev'e'r swing'able into and out of the path of movement of position to provide for reciprocation of said one.

rod past the position of said stop.

18. A iull iashioned comprising a plurality of reciprocable yarn caroted stop lever swingable. into and. out of the path of travel of said stop, a liiting element carried by said one rod for moving said step lever to inoperative position upon removal of said one rod from the knitting field, and'a member carried by an adjacent rod' for, holding said stop lever in inoperative position when said second carrier rod isin inoperative position.

- 19. A full fashioned stocking knitting machine comprising a plurality of reeiprocable yarn carstop carried by one of said rods, a pivsaid stop, a lifting element carried by said one rod for moving said step lever to'i'noperative position upon the removal of said one rod from the knitting field, and a support carried by an adjacent rod for maintaining said stop lever in its inoperative position during the movement of said second rod to inoperative position to provide for unrestricted reciprocation of said first carrier relative to said stop lever. J t

20. A flat knitting machine comprising a plurality of parallel adjacent longitudinally reciprocable-elongated yarn carrier 'rods, a stationary support bracket having a portion extending transversely to the rods adjacent thereto between the ends'thereof, a shaft supported by the bracket parallel to said transverse bracket portion thereabove, stops including one for each rod pivoted on said shaft, -eachof certain of said transverse bracket portion, an element on the rod 7 corresponding to the spring biased stop for lifting the stop against the spring bias from stopping to releasing position, other of the rods upon which stop rests in a given position RUDOLPH ANKE.

the spring biased an adjacent.

stocking knitting machine lifting element carried by said one rier rods, a stop carried by one of the rods, a-pivand an element on anof said other rod. 

